Skip to Content
MilliporeSigma
  • Effects of the benzimidazole anthelmintic drug flubendazole on rat embryos in vitro.

Effects of the benzimidazole anthelmintic drug flubendazole on rat embryos in vitro.

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) (2013-01-05)
Monica Longo, Sara Zanoncelli, Paolo Angelo Colombo, Michael Oscar Harhay, Ivan Scandale, Charles Mackenzie, Timothy Geary, Nicole Madrill, Guy Mazué
ABSTRACT

Filarial diseases affect millions of people in poverty-stricken areas. In 2011, an investigation of the potential of flubendazole as a safe, highly efficacious, and field-usable macrofilaricidal drug was begun by Drug for Neglected Diseases initiative. As part of the preclinical development program, whole embryo culture was used to investigate the potential embryotoxicity of flubendazole and its metabolites, reduced and hydrolyzed flubendazole. Albendazole was included as a comparator. Flubendazole and albendazole showed similar potency in affecting rat embryonic development in vitro, inducing retardation of growth and dysmorphogenic effects at concentrations ≥0.5 μg/mL. The head, optic and otic systems, branchial arches and posterior body portion were affected. Diffuse areas of cell death were seen in various embryonic districts. The No Observed Effect Level (NOEL) was 0.25 μg/mL for both drugs. Reduced and hydrolyzed flubendazole were less embryotoxic than the parent compound, with NOELs 4-fold and >40-fold higher than that of flubendazole, respectively.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Supelco
Flubendazol, VETRANAL®, analytical standard
Supelco
Mebendazole, analytical standard, ≥98% (HPLC)